Railroad-switch.



No. 892,053. PATENTED JUNE 30, 1908;

W. HOLQUIST.

RAILROAD SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. '1, 100a.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM HOLQUIST, OF- WILCOX, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILROAD-SWITCH.

specified, wherein there will be an improved means for actuating theswitch, and an improved lock for such means.

The invention consists in certain switch operating and locking devicesapplied to the track near the rails, and certain devices preferablycarried upon the engine to co-act therewith and operate the same.

The invention further consists in certain novel features of constructionand arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated intheaccompanying drawing, and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings I-Figure 1 represents a plan view of atrack showing the switch in position to allow a train to pass on themain line. Fig. 2, is a diagrammatic view of an engine partly brokenaway to show the-actuating means carried thereon. Fig. 3 is a detailview of the switch bar, its housing and adjacent parts, the same beingin the'position as in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing thedevice in the position opposite that of Fig. 1, that is to say, inposition to allow the train to pass on or from the siding. Fig. 5 is apartial vertical section showing a portion of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detailplan view of one of the cam levers. Fig. 7 is a detail elevation of Fig.6, partially in section. Fig. 8 is a sectional view through the line aaof Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is a sectional view through the line bb of Fig. 4.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The numeral 10 indicates the main line rails of a track carried onsuitable ties, as at 11. At 12 are shown the side track or turnoutrails, provided with the usual frog and switch-point 13. Between themain line rails is held a housing 14, wherein is formed Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed March 7, 1908.

Patented June 30, 1908.

Serial No. 419,773.

suitable guides 15. The housing is provided with a cover 16, and is hereshown as of circular form, although it will be obvious that for thepurposes of this invention the same may be of any other desired form.Held in the housing 14 to move longitudinally of the guides 15, is aswitch bar 16, provided in one face thereof with a notch 17. mountedwithin the casing, being pivoted thereto as at 19. The latch 18 isprovided with arms 20 and 21, said arms being adapted to extend withinthe recess 17 and hold the switch bar in position when the switch iseither fully opened or closed.

The switch bar is here shown as provided with heads 22 adapted to fitwithin the housing, and the housing has formed at the middle thereof apartition 23. Springs 24 are held between the heads 22 and the middlepartition 23, the normal tendency of said springs being to keep theswitch bar in a median position in the housing.

A rocker 25 is ivotally mounted as at 26 exterior of one end of thehousing, and a similar rocker 27 is pivoted at 28 exterior of the otherend of said housing. The rockers 25 and 27 are rovided with segmentalrecesses 29, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. These rockers are furtherprovided with arcuate oppositely disposed slots 30. A connecting rod 31'is ivotally attached to the bar 16 and extents into the recess 29 ofrocker 25 and is provided with a pin 32 held to move in the slots 30. Asimilar connecting rod 33 is held in the recess 29 of rocker 27, beingprovided with a similar pin 34, as shown.

Pivotally attached to the latch 18 are connectin rods 35, one extendingin the direction oi direction of the rocker 27. A link 36 connects oneof said rods 35 with the rocker 25, and a link 37 connects the other rodwith the rocker 27 each being pivotally mounted thereon.

It will be observed that the rocker is shown as in the form of a diskwith a segmental recess, but it will be apparent that the form of thismay be varied, if it is desired, without affectin the objects thereof.

Suita le clips 38 are arranged upon the bar 16 to hold the switch pointsin position thereon.

Pivotally mounted adjacent the track, and some distance from the devicesjust described, are levers 40, and upon the same shaft and A latch 18 isthe rocker 25, and the other in the given to the reach rod 43 connectingsaid pressed air from one of the air cylinders of that the link 36 willproduce a thrust on the fixed thereto, are rocker arms 41. It is obviousthat these arms, when desired, may be in the form of a crank, as shownat 42, in Fig. 1. Reach rods 43 connect the two cam levers on the maintrack with the rockers, and thereach rod 44 connects the cam lever onthe side track with the adjacent cam lever of the main track, as clearlyshown in Fig. 1. Carried upon the engine is one or more fluid pressurecylinders 45, provided with the usual piston and piston rod 46. Upon thepiston rod 46, at the lower end thereof, is carried a roller 47, andthis roller is adapted to extend downward and contact with one of thecam levers 40. The piston is preferably actuated by means of airpressure admitted through a pipe, as' shown at 48, and valve controlledby the engineer, deriving the comthe locomotive. It may, however, ifdesired, actuate the device by steam pressure, or by any other means fitto be used.

In the usual form of the device, two cylinders 45 are preferably mountedon the locomotive, one being at the forward right-hand end, and theother at the rear left-hand end thereof. It will be plain, however, thatwhile there is here shown a locomotive equipped in this manner, that thesame de vice may be used for electric cars, compressed air locomotivesfor mines, or any other form of vehicle running on tracks, and it is notdesired to confine the application solely to locomotives The operationof the device will be best understood by assuming that the p arts are inthe position shown in Fig. 1, with a locomotive coming towards theswitch from the right-hand end of said figure, as indicated by thearrow. Assuming that the engineer de sires to remain on the main track,he simply permits the roller 47 to remain in raised position, this beingthe usual position in which it is intended to carry said roller, and theswitch will remain locked, as shown. Should he, however, desire to runon to the side track, or turn-out, he moves the roller 47 to theposition shown in Fig. 2. It will then strike the face of the cam lever40 at the right hand of Fig. 1. This will cause a thrust to be cam leverwith the rocker 25. This will cause the latter to rotate about the pivot26, and the first action that takes place will be rod 35 between it andthe latch 18. Inasmuch as the pivot 19 is located nearer the bar 16 thanthe pivoted connection of the rod 35, it will cause the latch arm 20 tolift out of the recess 17. The springs 24 will then tend to move the bar16 to a central position. As the motion continues, the end of thearcuate slot 30 will contact with the pin 32 and force the bar 16 stillfurther over, throwing the switch into position on the side track. havebeen turned sufficiently far so that the arm 27 will project within therecess 17 and hold the bar 16 against return. It is, of course, obviousthat the motion of the bar 16 will, also, affect the rocker 27 and thecams connected therewith to throw them into position for action from theopposite end of Fi 1.

It will thus be seen that this device provides a simple and efficientmeans for accomplishing the purpose specified, and one which may bereadily applied to any existing tracks with the minimum of expense.

What is claimed is Y 1. In an automatic railroad switch, a switch barheld to operate said switch, a locking means for said bar, springsadapted to immediately center said bar upon release of said lockingmeans, a rocker, means to connect said rocker to said locking means andactuate the same, means to connect said In the meanwhile the latch 18will rocker and said bar and actuate the switch arranged for operationonly when the bar is switch bar held to operate said switch providedwith a recess therein, a latch pivotally mounted adjacent said bar andadapted to engage said recess, springs adapted to immediately centersaid bar upon release of said locking means, a rocker, means to connectsaid rocker and said latch and actuate the latch, means to connect saidrocker and said bar and actuate the switch arranged to operate only whenthe bar is released from the lock, means to rotate the rocker, androlling stock supported means to actuate the last mentioned means.

3. In an automatic railroad switch, a switch bar held to operate saidswitch, a locking means for said bar, springs adapted to immediatelycenter said bar upon release of said locking means, a rocker, means toconnect said rocker to said locking means, a rod pivoted to said bar, apin and slot connection between'said rod and rocker whereby the rockermay be rotated sufficiently to release the latch before the bar ismoved, means to operate said rocker, and rolling stock sup ported meansadapted to actuate the last mentioned means.

4. In an automatic railroad switch, a switch bar held to operate saidswitch, a locking means for said bar, springs adapted to immediatelycenter said bar upon release of said locking means, a rocker, means toconreleased from the look, a cam lever pivoted adjacent the t1 ack, aconnecting rod between said cam lever and rocker, and rolling stocksupported means adapted to throw said cam lever.

5. In an automatic railroad switch, a housing, a switch bar held toslide in said housing, a locking means for said bar, springs held insaid housing adapted to center said bar l0ngitudinally thereof, whenreleased from said locking means, a rocker, means to connect said rockerto said locking means and actuate the same, means to connect said rockerto said bar and actuate the switch arranged for operation only when thebar is released from the lock, means to rotate said rocker, and rollingstock supported means adapted to actuate the last mentioned means.

6. In an automatic railroad switch, a housing, guides formed therein, aswitch bar held to move in said guides provided with a recess in oneside thereof, springs held in said housing adapted to center said barlongitudinally thereof, a rocker comprising a pivoted disk having asegmental recess thereln and oppositely disposed arcuate slots in theside walls of said recess, a latch pivotally mounted in said housingarranged to co-act with said recess and lock said switch in either openor closed position, a rod pivotally connected to said latch and rocker,a second rod pivotally connected to said bar and provided with an eyedend arranged to lie in the recess of the rocker, a pin passing throughsaid arcuate slots and eyed end and forming a lost motion connectionbetween said second rod and rocker, a cam lever, a rod and crankconnection between said cam lever and rocker and rolling stock supportedmeans arranged for adjustment in line with said cam lever.

7. In an automatic railroad switch, a housing, guides formed therein, aswitch bar held to move in said guides provided with a recess in oneside thereof, springs held in said housing adapted to center said barlongitudinally thereof, a rocker comprising a pivoted disk having asegmental recess therein and oppositely disposed arcuate slots in theside walls of said recess, a latch pivotally mounted in said housingarranged to co-act with said recess and lock said switch in either openor closed position, a rod pivotally connected to said latch and rocker,a second rod ivotally connected to said bar and provide with an eyed endarranged to lie in the recess .of the rocker, a pin passing through saidarcuate slots .and eyed end and forming a lost motion connection betweensaid second rod and rocker, a cam lover, a rod and crank connectionbetween said cam lever and rocker and rolling stock supported meansarranged for adjustment in line with said cam lever comprising a fluidpressure supply, a fluid pressure cylinder, a valved connection betweensaid supply and cylinder, a piston and rod held to move in saidcylinder, and a contactin roller carried on said rod.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM HOLQUIST.

Witnesses:

ELMER HoL UIsr, C. E. DUPREE.

